Faculty and Staff

Pioneer Leadership Program, Faculty and Staff

Linda Olson, Ph.D., PLP Executive Director

Dr. Linda Olson began teaching at the University of Denver in 2000 and has spent the
past 10 years as Sr. Lecturer and Director of the Pioneer Leadership Program. Her
area of communication research has included collaborative leadership, group and team
communication, leadership development, leadership and sustainability, and leadership
ethics. Linda's current research is focused on assessment of leadership learning and
the leadership development process of undergraduate students. She brings a vibrant
interest in international and intercultural issues to the classroom. Linda has taught
and led groups involved in international learning and service throughout the world.
In addition, Linda is active in local elected leadership as the Mayor Pro Tem of the
City of Englewood, Colorado. http://magazine.du.edu/featured-categories/magazine-feature/du-program-director-moves-from-the-lecture-hall-to-council-chambers/

Paul Kosempel, Ph.D., PLP Associate Director

Paul's professional experience includes over ten years in institutions of higher education
in various capacities including career development, leadership development, operations,
and event management. Prior to joining the Pioneer Leadership Program in 2007, Paul
created a thriving program of alumni involvement as Director of Alumni Career Information
at DU. His doctoral studies focused on communication dynamics in mentoring relationships.
Additionally, he is pursuing research that examines the role mentoring plays in leadership.
Paul has taught previously in both the Pioneer Leadership Program and the Daniels
College of Business. In addition to getting involved in his neighborhood association
and his church, Paul enjoys coaching his kids in various sports.

Mimina (Mimi) Bau, MBA, PLP Program & Community Relations Coordinator

Mimi is a DU graduate and an alumnus of the Pioneer Leadership Program. She received
her BS in Mathematics and MBA in Global Market Finance from Daniels College of Business
at the University of Denver. She has worked for the University since 2006, from Marketing
& Communications to our Program & Community Relations Coordinator. She manages our
corporate/nonprofit partnerships, community engagement, volunteer program, alumni
development, and strategic growth of our program. She is very active in the community and
serves on various boards and committees around Denver. She loves working with college
students and inspiring them to fulfill their dreams. Growing up in Colorado Springs,
she loves running, hiking, and being outdoors!

Lauren Fedor,PLP Assistant Coordinator

Lauren is a first year master's candidate in the University of Denver's Higher Education
program with an emphasis in Leadership and Organizational Change. Having received
her BA in Sociology from Loyola University New Orleans, Lauren is particularly interested
in merging her two primary academic areas through investigating the sociology of leadership
and education. She began working with the Pioneer Leadership Program in November 2013
and is enthusiastic about the ways in which she can support all aspects of the program's
operations, development, and continued success. In addition to working with PLP, Lauren
also serves as a graduate fellow in DU's Apartments and a Program Advisor for the
Academic Advising and Discoveries Orientation office. Originally from southeast Pennsylvania,
Lauren is excited about exploring her new home in Colorado. In addition to her professional
pursuits, she loves being active, eating Thai food, and seeing live music.

Pioneer Leadership Program, Faculty Affiliates

Cathy Grieve, Ph.D.PhD, University of Denver (1979)MA, University of Denver (1972)BA, Mount St. Joseph-on-the-Ohio

Selected Accomplishments:

National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 2003 Silver Circle Inductee

Excellence in Education Award, University of Denver Disability Services, 2002

Roscoe Hill, Ph.D.Roscoe Hill is a member of the Philosophy Department faculty. He came to DU in 1973,
and has spent the time here going back and forth between teaching and administration.
Most recently, from 1990 to 1998, he was Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
at DU. In the 1970's and early 1980's he was the Associate Dean of the College of
Arts and Sciences. In the early 1980's he was the founding dean of The New College
(now named University College).

He once taught and researched in the areas of ethics and philosophy of law. Then
he moved on to the philosophy of religion. Through it all, he has loved teaching
the moral writings of Plato, Aristotle, and other ancient Greek thinkers. His interest
in the Pioneer Leadership Program traces to three things: he has held many leadership
positions and enjoys thinking/reading about leadership issues; he believes leaders
need to be acquainted with the literature of philosophy; and he thinks PLP students
are terrific. He has also raced sailboats for many years, typically with a crew of four. In such
settings, the lessons about teamwork are numerous. He has two grown children and
six grandchildren. He enjoys hiking and sailing in the summer, snow shoeing and skiing
in the winter.

Pioneer Leadership Program, Community Adjunct Affiliate

Jamie Van Leeuwen, Ph.D. Jamie has a Masters degree in International Public Health and a Masters degree in
Sociology from Tulane University. He completed his PhD in Public Policy at the Graduate
School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado at Denver with an emphasis
on affordable housing and homelessness. In 2006, Jamie was appointed by Denver Mayor
John Hickenlooper to work as the Project Manager for Denver's Road Home, the city's
Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. He was also appointed to Chair the Drug Strategy
Commission and oversee the Office of Drug Strategy. Prior to this role, Jamie directed
fundraising, legislative work and research as the Director of Development & Public
Affairs at Urban Peak, a Colorado non-profit agency serving over 3,000 homeless and
at-risk youth each year. With extensive experience researching and working with street
youth in New Orleans and Denver, Jamie chaired the Denver Outreach Forum and participated
on the Mayor's Safety Task Force and the Mayor's Drug Strategy Task Force.